Rubens
Barichello led home Michael Schumacher to give Ferrari another crushing
1-2 finish in front of the jubilant Tifosi who had come to Monza in their
droves to celebrate Ferrari's success this year. Barrichello, chosing an
effective two stop pit strategy, outperformed his team mate all race, the
Ferraris crusing across the line in the almost customary formation finish.
At the lights Juan Pablo Montoya, who had made the overnight headlines with his blistering qualifying lap, was passed by team mate Ralf Schumacher who hopped over the first chicane kerbs to force his way into the lead. Meanwhile Barrichello, on a lighter fuel load than Michael Schumacher outdragged his team mate to the chicane to claim third.
The stewards adjuged Ralf to have made an unfair pass on Montoya and ordered him to let the Colombian past. As he did so his BMW engine expired and Barrichello took advantage of the confusion to slip past and into the lead. With Michael demoting Montoya to third shortly after, the Ferraris soon had things to themselves.
When Montoya retired with suspension problems around half distance the Ferraris were in a class of their own, Eddie Irvine, bringing the Jaguar home third to claim the teams first ever podium, was almost a minute down on the red cars at the flag.
Michael Schumacher took the lead when Barrichello made his first stop, put on his lighter load easily made up ground, retaking it when Schumacher made his only stop of the afternoon. Needing around 25 seconds over his team mate, the Brazilian reeled off fast laps, eventually making his stop and returning to the track just ahead of the world champion.
A distant third, Eddie Irvine had a quiet race, bringing the Jaguar home to claim the final podium position, making some amends for a difficult year the team have endured. Jarno Trulli put in a fantastic drive, having started at the back after stalling on the parade lap, he carved his way through the field to finish fourth, and with team mate Jenson Button fifth, it was the first time this year that both Renaults had finished in the points.
Oliver Panis, also opting for a two stop strategy came home sixth to claim the final point, while David Coulthard, after stopping on lap one to replace a broken nosecone, finished out of the points in seventh. With Kimi Raikkonen suffering engine failure, it was a poor showing from the McLaren-Mercedes team.
Juan
Pablo Montoya broke Keke Rosberg's 17-year-old record for the fastest ever
Formula 1 lap on his way to pole position for tomorrow's Italian Grand
Prix. His 161mph average lap over the 3.3 mile Monza circuit gave him his
first pole since the French Grand Prix back in July. Set midway through
the session, it knocked Williams team mate Ralf Schumacher off the top
spot and was never threatened for the rest of the session.
